First Time Alabama Investor - neighborhood advice please!

[Tatjana Roth]

I am working with a turnkey provider and found a single family house (3 bed 2 bath) in Hueytown with numbers that makes sense. The house is bit dated; it appears to me that the turnkey provider bought at 100K, made minimal repairs and now selling at $165K. The rent would be $1295 and the cash ROI 8.5% ($291). The neighborhood comps seems reasonable and accurate, but I am worried about "negative equity" that I read so much about on BP. It's hard to grasp how you can go from $100K to $165 with such a basic cosmetic repairs.

My main concern, however, is that I know nothing about the neighborhood. I am told that the A B C D area ratings are very subjective and unreliable.  I do not know what Hueytown overall rating is.  I would really like to get a better idea what I am getting myself into. From what I understand, Hueytown is a small suburban city near Bessemer. Bessemer appears to be one of the most rough and dangerous cities in America. Is this true? So hard to determine from the web search. Also, the Birmingham is an hour away, which is too far for commuters.

Does anyone has experience with this neighborhood?  Any advice to the first timer would be greatly appreciated.